CVE-2026-13001

Podlove Podcast Publisher <= 4.5.1 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Upload via podlove_image_cache_url Parameter

2026-07-14 06:57
Talal Nasraddeen

Strategic Overview

Status
Patched in 4.5.2
Affected Plugin
Podlove Podcast Publisher
Affected Version
<= 4.5.1
CVSS
9.8Critical
Weakness type
CWE-20 · Improper Input Validation
CVE
CVE-2026-13001
View all Podlove Podcast Publisher vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2026-13001 is a critical-severity Improper Input Validation vulnerability in the Podlove Podcast Publisher WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 4.5.1. It carries a CVSS score of 9.8 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality, integrity, availability impact). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 4.5.2; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed July 2026, reported by Talal Nasraddeen.

Vulnerability Overview

The Podlove Podcast Publisher plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to missing file type validation in the 'podlove_handle_cache_files' function in all versions up to, and including, 4.5.1. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files on the affected site's server which may make remote code execution possible.

Technical Analysis

The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no privileges on the target site, and no interaction from a victim user. A successful exploit has high impact on confidentiality, integrity, availability — full site compromise territory.

CWE-20: Improper Input Validation

Podlove Podcast Publisher <= 4.5.1 carries this weakness at podlove_handle_cache_files, and reaching it takes no account at all. Improper input validation means the application accepts input without confirming it has the form, type or range the code downstream assumes.

The concrete impact depends on where the unvalidated value lands, which is why records in this class range from cosmetic bugs to full compromise. For Podlove Podcast Publisher the fix is 4.5.2: builds <= 4.5.1 are affected, anything from 4.5.2 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 4.5.2, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

Requests carrying this pattern arrive without a session, so nothing upstream of the firewall gets a chance to reject them: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: Podlove Podcast Publisher 4.5.2 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

  • Firewall
  • Login Security
  • Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-13001https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f81a3429-f378-4295-adbe-ad6f1df59701https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-13001

Related records

Vulnerability data © Defiant, Inc., provided under the Wordfence Intelligence T&C